sql order by - Sort MySQL query ASC or DESC depending on value of other table -

i got query , want wort sort result depending on database.

this query:

select    a.`name`      `article` left join `container` b        on b.`id` = a.`container`     a.`container` = '1' order  b.`sort` asc; 

this works fine, sorts result ascending. bute want ist sorted depending on value in container table.

article table  id | container | name    | gender ---|---------------------|--------- 1  | 1         | michael | male 2  | 1         | joe     | male 3  | 2         | karen   | female 4  | 2         | andrew  | male 5  | 3         | jessica | female   container table  id | sort   | order ---|--------|----  1 | name   | asc  2 | name   | desc  3 | gender | asc  4 | name   | asc  5 | gender | desc 

how can change query order container table?

i expect result:

id | container | name    | gender ---|---------------------|--------- 2  | 1         | joe     | male 1  | 1         | michael | male 

you can't in 1 query.

a given sql query must fixed @ time prepare query, before execution begins. can't make behavior change depending on data discovers while executing.

you'll have read sort direction in 1 query, , format dynamic sql query values discover.

select `sort`, `order` container id = 1 

fetch these data application variables $sort_column, $direction. use them:

$sql = "     select    a.`name`          `article`         a.`container` = '1'     order  {$sort_column} {$direction}";  ...prepare $sql query...  ...execute query... 

(i'm assuming php syntax variables, can similar in language.)